SYRIA – The violence and terror continues unabated in Syria. Many sacred buildings (including churches, school buildings, houses) have been destroyed as result of the most recent violence in Syria. Last week the St. Mary's Church and the Al-Wahda Private School in Dair Al-Zor were also affected by this violence.

Further, a large public march was held last week to raise awareness for the increasing violence and the enormous level of kidnappings in the city of Hassake, in the previously safe north-east of Syria. This resulted in victims of different background from the Christians, Muslims, Yazidy, Kurds and Arabs communities marching the streets of Hassake to present unity to the local government officials and rebels against such activity.

According to His Eminence, Archbishop Matta Roham, of the Syriac Orthodox Church, "the local population in Syria is facing a savage war against civilization and we feel that Syria is going through its own disastrous war. We simply ask for the violence to stop and a cease fire to immediately take place. We cannot take any more of this terrible situation."